Ozark Tiger E-News
Weekly News Highlighting Our Students & Staff
What the revised quarantine guidelines mean for Ozark
Yesterday, the Governor’s announcement changing the school quarantine guidelines has left some elated, some concerned, and some confused. Each person has their own experience and opinions with COVID-19. We respect those.
My take-away from this announcement is that masking works! This is wonderful news. It gives us an opportunity to refocus our masking efforts, which we will absolutely do.
This school year we have quarantined 2,020 students. Out of this number, 923 students (166 pre-k/elementary and 757 OMS/OJH/OHS/FRS) were due to a high level of exposure at school. A high level of exposure occurs when there has been a close contact (less than 6 ft.) with a positive individual for more than 15 minutes. Until yesterday’s announcement, this has taken place regardless of masking.
We have sent students home who are not getting sick, which puts more strain on working families.
Here’s what I see when this happens:
Students suffer academically, mentally and socially
Students feel like they are being punished
Students still get together in groups while on quarantine risking further spread
Some students do not have enough food to eat at home
Teachers are challenged to simultaneously teach virtually and in-person
Teachers are working extremely hard to keep students engaged and caught up with their in-person classmates
These new guidelines allowed us to bring back 94 of the 249 students on quarantine due to a high level of exposure at school. We are not changing our masking guidelines and as I said earlier, we will refocus those efforts. We will continue to investigate each situation, quarantine students/staff in situations where masks are not worn properly, and notify families of low-risk exposures.
The change in the guidelines will primarily affect our students in middle school through high school. This is, by far, where we are sending the most students home. Our elementary schools have different challenges such as wearing masks properly or larger groups eating and playing together.
I appreciate our staff, students, and our community for trusting us as we navigate this school year. I see the toll this pandemic has taken on our staff and students this school year. Remember to wear your mask properly and stay home/keep your child home when they are not feeling well. We believe the safest environment is at school and the best way for students to learn is in-person.
Thank you,
Chris Bauman, Superintendent
Here are a few resources you might find helpful:
Thank you, veterans
It's all an illusion
Thank your custodian
The White Table
Growth Rates
Veterans Day
Land of the Free
Animal Adaptations
Bluebirds and dancing frogs
Note: Tiger Paw students are not required to wear masks.
The Poppy Story
O Say Can You See
Thank you for your service
Cross Country at State
Boys Soccer
Boys Swim & Dive
FAFSA Frenzy
FAFSA Frenzy helps thousands of Missouri students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid every year. The FAFSA is the primary form used by federal, state and institutional financial aid programs in determining an individual's eligibility for grants, loans, work-study and scholarships.
Parent Survey
Does your student have access to the internet and an electronic device (tablet, computer or Ozark School District Chromebook) to complete schoolwork at home? Ozark School District is collecting this information in order to determine what type of support our families need in case of closure situations as well as complying with reporting guidelines by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Please take a moment to fill out the survey for each of your students.
Directions for desktop and mobile app users:
Login Parent Portal
Select the yellow e-Form notice
Select 'Fall 2020 Technology Survey'
Complete the survey for each student
Ozark School District
Email: ozarkcommunications@ozarktigers.org
Website: www.ozarktigers.org
Location: 1600 West Jackson, Ozark, MO, USA
Phone: (417) 582-5900
Facebook: facebook.com/OzarkSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @OzarkTigers